New arts hub in Whaley Bridge

Professional artists from Whaley Bridge who take part in Derbyshire Open Arts each year have formed a new group in the town based at the Pear Tree Café.

The Arts Hub will have a permanent display of work and a shop at the café in Canal Street and will also hold related events throughout the year.

They aim to showcase the local creative talent in and around Whaley Bridge and to develop a more vibrant arts scene in the town.

A launch event is being staged in the café, owned by Georgina Wilkinson, on October 24 from 2pm until 8pm.

To celebrate each artist will be providing their own unique interpretation on the theme of a pear. These will be available for sale as originals and as greetings cards.

The second event in store will be an Affordable Art Fair at the café on the weekend of December 5 and 6.

It was principally the idea of Tamsin Cunningham and Sarah Poynter but has developed since then with the input of others. The group also includes Helen Brocklehurst, Andrea Joseph, Jill Kerr, Anna Massey, Lynne McPeake and Jill Petch, although there are plans for future growth.

Tamsin said: “During a series of meetings to discuss the success of Derbyshire Open Arts in Whaley Bridge, it became apparent that there was an opportunity to broaden its scope and to develop further the strong artistic community in the area.”

Martin Thomas, vice-chairman of Whaley Bridge Town Council, was invited to the meetings and is enthusiastically supporting it as he hopes that it will encourage other creative activities in the town.

“It was through Derbyshire Open Arts that I discovered a vibrant local community of amateur and professional artists working in a great variety of different media, producing interesting and thoughtful work to the highest standards,” he said.

“I very much welcome the formation of The Arts Hub. By collaborating together local artists can share resources, engage in joint publicity and have a shared platform for promotion.”